After completion of residency training at the Southwestern Medical School affiliated Parkland Hospital program in Dallas, Dr. Heighten practiced Emergency Medicine for 13 years. In the early 1990’s Dr. Heighten was one of five physicians founding Metroplex Emergency Physicians Associates, P.A. (MEPA). MEPA employed and managed emergency medicine providers by contracting with hospitals in Texas and surrounding states. MEPA was sold in 1998 to EmCARE, a publicly traded emergency services provider.

In 1994, Dr. Heighten founded the physician organization that became known as Medical Edge Healthcare Group, P.A. (MEHG). MEHG employed over 400 doctors and mid-level providers and owned facilities that provided a comprehensive range of ancillary and laboratory services at the time of its acquisition by Texas Health Resources (THR) in 2010. Dr. Heighten completed the integration of MEHG into the Texas Health Physician Group (THPG) in 2013.

Dr. Heighten was also a founder and board member of Physerve Physician Services (Physerve), which provided comprehensive management support to multiple physician groups across the U.S. and was also sold to THR. He is also a founding member of Green Park & Golf Ventures as well as Caddis Partners, a real estate development and management company specializing in healthcare properties.

Along the way Dr. Heighten has served on the boards of hospitals, insurance entities and technology companies. He is married to Dr. Debra Caudy, a medical oncologist and has four children. His philanthropic interests are devoted to the understanding, prevention and treatment of autistic spectrum disorders.